After Sex Slave Allegations Prince Andrew Admits: I Have Been A Fool

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The year is still young, but this could be the understatement of it so far.

Prince Andrew has admitted to friends that he has beeen "foolish" over his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, following allegations in a US court filing that he had sex on three occasions with a 17 year-old girl procured for him by the American financial adviser.

In a series of comments to the Daily Telegraph at the weekend, a member of Andrew's camp briefs the Telegraph thus:

"He is watching the news and reading the headlines and even though the friendship with Jeffrey Epstein was acknowledged as being unwise back in 2011, the Duke has clearly had a long time this week for the consequences of that friendship to further sink in. More than ever, he can see how foolish it was.”

The article also appears to rule out Andrew taking legal action his accuser as Alan Dershowitz, Epstein’s lawyer, who faces similar claims, is planning to do.

The source adds that Andrew will not attempt to rebut the claims in an interview.

“He knows that anything he said would be picked apart and he is mindful that he has already got into unprecedented territory in terms of the statements made by Buckingham Palace.

“If a stream of allegations appear and are answered point by point through the media, he knows that will only prolong and amplify a story that has been deeply uncomfortable for the Royal family.”

In other PR-unfriendly news, it emerged at the weekend that the ski lodge at which Andrew and Fergie were staying when the scandal broke was not rented - they actually bought it (together) in December for $19m.

Well, after all the good work he's doing on behalf of the monarchy, doesn't he deserve a little treat?